It's a beautiful spring morning, and I'm out for a walk with my dog.

Mallory, a 1½-year-old yorkie-poodle mix, stops to sniff at every tree and signpost and play with every dog and person passing by. So, our one-mile route takes us about a half-hour to complete. Does that count as exercise?

Walking is one of the cheapest, simplest and most popular forms of exercise, whether it's a fast race walk or a leisurely stroll to enjoy the outdoors. It's also one of the healthiest: Walking has been shown to increase circulation, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and improve muscle tone. It improves your mood and sense of well-being, said Beth Warren, director of the Healthy Living Center at the Mayo Clinic.

Warren advises people to start slowly, and build to 30 or 35 minutes of daily walking. It doesn't have to be all at once…

Warren defines a good workout: “You have a little bit of a light sweat, your breathing is a little bit faster, you're feeling a little bit of strain in your muscles.”

Louisville Courier-Journal by Carole Feldman, 09/03/09

Tags: exercise, Wellness, Wellness